east central ohio education...
TRANSCRIPT
Minerva Local EA
Julie Rine
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East Central Ohio Education Association
The Link Between Your Local and the Ohio Education Association
Serving members in Carroll, Columbiana, Holmes, Stark,
Tuscarawas, and Wayne Counties
OFFICERS AND STAFF President – Julie Nelson
Vice President –Cindy Endres Rec. Secretary – Kelli Green
Business Manager- Valerie Heban
Official Newsletter Publication of ECOEA
Winter 2016
Fifteen Gifts Every Teacher Needs By Member Julie Rine, Minerva Local EA
As the holiday break nears, I find myself wishing that everything was as easy to give a teacher as a plate filled with homemade cookies wrapped in colored Saran Wrap or a World’s Best Teacher mug filled with candy canes. Those gifts are always appreciated and any gesture of gratitude is welcomed. Having said that, if I had a direct line to the North Pole, here is the list I would give Santa for what every teacher deserves this year.
1. A never-ending supply of hand sanitizer, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, paper, tissues, and books: basically any material needed in our classrooms that always runs low and that we usually replenish using our own money.
2. Technology that helps rather than hinders, a server that never goes down, a fast internet connection that works all the time, and tech aides that are always available and happy to help.
3. Colleagues who collaborate with you, who share their best plans and laugh at the flops, who keep a positive attitude, who will cover your class while you dash to the bathroom, and who know when your level of frustration crosses over the line between needing a hug and needing something stronger.
4. Administration who are supportive of all aspects of your teaching, who never hold meetings when an email would suffice, who respect your efforts and your time and your talents, and who understand the very basic fact that treating employees with value and respect will make for a positive workplace and a productive staff.
5. A school board who never looks at teachers as the enemy, who is responsible with the district’s finances and who gets creative during negotiations to do everything in its power to meet the needs of the staff both financially and otherwise.
6. Legislators who consider teachers professionals, who trust our judgment and our skills and our motives, who believe that we know what is best when it comes to educational practice. A government that will quit changing educational policies and practices every other year and a President-elect who wants to support public education and recognizes its value in a democracy.
7. Parents who communicate with us just the right amount, who don’t hover over their kids and question our every move, but who work with us as partners in helping their children develop and learn lessons, even if some are learned the hard way.
8. No more high-stakes testing for kids or teachers, no more changing required tests every year, no more days out of the classroom to learn what’s on the tests or how to administer the tests, and no more kids crying, sleeping, sighing, or otherwise shutting down during tests that do little to measure their true knowledge or growth.
9. Students who have plenty to eat and who come to school every day, who have a stable home life with at least one adult who encourages and praises them but holds them accountable for their actions, who have a thirst for knowledge, who see the importance of our lessons, who follow directions the first time, who believe in themselves, who put forth a full effort, and who treat us and each other with respect.
10. Family and friends who are quiet when you need to work at home and who drag you away from the pile of papers and plans when you need to stop working and start living.
11. A medical kit in your classroom that becomes dusty from non-use, a run-hide-fight plan that becomes obsolete, a day when we don’t have to think about what could be used as weapons in our classroom and where we could hide children, because a classroom should have learning tools, not weapons, and children who flourish rather than cower.
12. A society filled with people who believe we should be richly supported and compensated for the very important work we do, and who never, EVER say “It must be nice to have summers off.” (Continued bottom of page 2)
ECOEA Office 129 Easton St. NE
Suite 103
Canton, Ohio 44721
330-499-8587
www.ecoea.ohea.us
M
Take advantage
of your dues dollars
www.ecoea.ohea.us Check out the ECOEA Website for
info and online application forms
for all of the following ECOEA
member opportunities:
* ECOEA Inservice Meeting funds
* NEA Leadership Summit Scholarship -
deadline Jan 13th
* NEA ESP Conference Scholarship -
deadline Jan 13th
* NEA-Retired Conference Scholarship -
deadline Jan 13th
* Quinn Member and Student
Scholarships - deadline March 1st
* OEA Summer Leadership Conference
Scholarships-deadline April 15
* Local Levy Support-contact the ECOEA
office
ECOEA-- the link between OEA and your local
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ECOEA Calendar JANUARY 2017
Fri, Jan 13 ECOEA NEA ESP, Retired,
and Summit Scholarship deadlines
Wed, Jan 18 ECOEA Exec Meeting (if mtg cancelled, Finance and
IPPA committees will replace)
Fri, Jan 20 ECOEA Retirement Workshop reservation deadline
Tues, Jan 24 Decl. of Candidacy Unit 1 Board of Directors due
Sat, Jan 28 ECOEA Retirement Workshop
Jan 27-29 NEA Minority and Women's Leadership Training
FEBRUARY 2017
Feb 2-4 OEA Advocacy & Organizing Institute
Wed, Feb 8 ECOEA Exec Meeting
ECOEA Program Meeting to follow
Feb 24-26 NEA Leadership Summit
ECOEA Legislative Dinner reservation deadline
Tues, Feb 28 ECOEA Letter of Intent due
MARCH 2017
Fri, March 3 ECOEA Legislative Dinner
Wed, March 1 Quinn Member & Student Scholarships deadline
Wed. March 8 ECOEA Exec Meeting
March 10-12 NEA ESP Conference
March 21-23 NEA-Retired Organizing Conference
APRIL 2017
Wed, April 5 ECOEA Exec Meeting
Sat, April 8 ECOEA Spring RA
Sat, April 15 Scholarship deadline to OEA Summer Academy
MAY 2017
Wed, May 3 ECOEA Executive Board meeting
Fri, May 12 OEA Awards Banquet
May 12-13 OEA Spring RA
JUNE 2017
Sat, June 3 NEA Delegate Briefing
June 19-21 OEA Summer Academy
June 30-July 5 NEA Rep Assembly
JULY 2017
Mon, July 17 ECOEA Summer Leadership Workshop
Per By-Law 3.9 Access to Financial
Reports-the Monthly Executive financial
reports are available to any member upon
request
(Continued from page 1)
13. A full day (okay, a week, since this is a fantasy list, after all) without hearing any of the following right in the middle of a lesson: “Can I go to the bathroom?”, “Can I get a drink?”, “Is this going to be on the test?”, “I was absent yesterday, did I miss anything?”, “What page are we on?”, “Can I borrow a pencil?”, “How do we do this again?”, or “How many points is this worth?”
14. Shoes that are stylish yet comfortable, room temperatures to accommodate your hot flashes and cold spells, 75% off sales when you need school clothes, weekly full-body massages, money in the budget to attend professional conferences that renew your passion and reinvigorate your practice, sick days when your lesson plans are already sub-compatible, snow days when you most need a day off, routine when you need comfort and change when you need refreshed.
15. And because none of the above is likely to happen, most of all I wish for patience, energy, and love, in unparalleled amounts and in constant supply. Without these, this job is nearly impossible to do well, and most of us would sacrifice all the actual gifts we will receive this season if we could make the lives of our students such that their dreams become a reality.
Enjoy your break. You’ve earned it.
ECOEA FALL REP ASSEMBLY 2016 President Julie Nelson presided over her first ECOEA Rep Assembly on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at the CPEA office. Mark Hill, Worthington EA, gave an STRS update. Important actions of the assembly included the election of Cindy Endres, Jackson Classified PA, to the OEA Board of Directors Unit #1 seat and the endorsement of Tamika Moss, Canton Profession EA, for OEA Board of Directors At Large. Tamika was elected to the Board at the OEA Rep Assembly on December 3. President Julie made several presentations to locals. She announced the 11 locals that qualified for the ECOEA Five Star Award. The drawing for the $500 award was held with Stark County Education Professionals and Trainers Association (SCEPTA) receiving the award this year. President Victoria Freday accepted the award for her association. SCEPTA subsequently donated the award to the Louisville Education Association Business Manager Valerie Heban announced the Top Ten FCPE locals along with the presentation of the Public Relations grant winners. There were five PR Grant winners awarded for their proposals. Lake Local EA member Chelsea Shoemaker and President Allison McGinnis accepted their award for Chelsea’s proposal “Community Relations Outreach Program” which will invite area businesses into the schools to promote the district and form relationships in the community. Accepting for North Canton EA was President Julie Nelson for her proposal “Welcoming Readers to North Canton City Schools.” Accepting for Minerva Local EA was President Stuart Grunder for his proposal “MLEA Banner” to promote the Association at school and public events. Accepting for Newcomerstown Teachers’ Association was President Janel Travis for the proposal submitted by member Heather Beall “Bringing Back the Pride.” NTA will provide shirts for members so the Association will be recognized when members work in the community. The final PR grant was to the Fairless Education Association, President Melissa Kath, for her proposal entitled “Soles 4 Souls” Fairless Helping Fairless is a community organization that assists Fairless students with school needs. Gym shoes will be purchased for those students in need. Pictured below Vice President Cindy Endres presents the PR Grant winners with their certificate and checks. Row one: Chelsea Shoemaker, Lake Local EA; Stuart Grunder, Minerva Local EA; Janice Meissenheimer-Courtney, Fairless EA. Row two: Janel Travis, Newcomerstown TA; Julie Nelson, North Canton EA
Unit Scholarship drawings were held for the three ECOEA $500 scholarships for continuing education for members. Winners were from Unit I-Adam Amato, Fairless EA; from Unit II-Lana Shelley, Rittman EA; and from Unit III-Dr. Geneva Parker, Canton Professional EA. Congratulations to these members! Senator Lou Gentile (SD 30) was recognized as the ECOEA Friend of Education. There were 33 delegates from 13 different locals and OEA-R represented at the ECOEA RA. The Spring ECOEA Rep Assembly will be held at the CPEA office on Saturday, April 8, 2017.
ECOEA Spring Rep Assembly Saturday, April 8, 2017
8:30 AM Canton Professional Educators’
Association Office
******************************* OEA Spring Rep Assembly Fri-Sat, May 12-13, 2017
9:00 AM Greater Columbus Convention Center
*******************************
NEA Representative Assembly June 30-July 5, 2017
Boston, Massachusetts
* Save the Dates * ECOEA
Retirement Workshop Saturday, January 28, 2017
Courtyard Canton Breakfast buffet door prizes!
Sessions for STRS, SERS, & OPERS Registration is open now!
ECOEA Spring
Legislative Dinner and Program
Friday, March 3, 2017 LaPizzaria
Registration is open now!
ECOEA Summer Leadership Workshop
Monday, July 17, 2017
9:00 AM-3:00 PM R. G. Drage Career Tech Center
Massillon, OH OEA Treasurer Training Local Leaders Network
Breakfast, Lunch, Door Prizes!
All event registrations can be found on our website at ecoea.ohea.us
OEA Fall Representative Assembly Information
Sixteen of ECOEA’s sixty-three locals were represented at the OEA Fall Representative Assembly: Canton Professional Educators’ Association Lake Local EA Stark Area Vocational Educators SCEPTA Jackson Classified Personnel Association Jackson Memorial Education Association Rittman EA Newcomerstown TA New Philadelphia EA North Canton EA Perry Classroom TA Plain Local TA Triway EA Fairless Local EA Wooster EA Alliance EA ECOEA-R was also present at the OEA RA. Thank you to Lori Liskey from Jackson Classified PA for serving as a floor attendant. The two Stay-to-the-End Drawing winners were delegates Jen McKelley, North Canton EA, and Chris Heutsche, Alliance EA. The fund raiser drawing winner was Cindy Endres, Jackson Classified Personnel Association. Congratulations, ladies!
Canton Professional EA member Tamika Moss was elected to the OEA Board of Directors as an At Large member at the OEA Representative Assembly on Saturday, December 3. Tamika will complete the 2016-2017 term for this position. Congratulations Tamika!
Louisville President Kory Swope addressed the delegates at both the ECOEA
and OEA Rep Assemblies this fall. The delegates responded generously with
support for the LEA members. LEA received support from around the state in
the form of cash, gift cards, canned goods and other consumables, as well as
letters of support. Members from area locals and around the state traveled to
Louisville to join the picket line. LEA voted to end the strike after 16 days.
Thanks from LEA
“While we have returned to the classroom without a tentative agreement, our fight has not ended.
Our fight was not about salary, benefits, or any sort of pay and compensation. Our fight was to
ensure all voices are considered equally in the school district; to work collectively with the school
community; to give the students the education and schools each one of them deserve. In the end,
our fight is about respect.
Throughout our labor strife, we have experienced something amazing amid a trying time. We have
developed and grown some incredible partnerships with other OEA locals. The donations, cards,
phone calls, and visits showed us the true meaning of unity and solidarity. There are no words to
express the gratitude we feel. Up until now, most of us didn't think much about the family aspect of
a union, but seeing people from all around the state selflessly giving and sharing in our fight, was
humbling and uplifting. We hope to continue to cultivate these relationships moving forward, as we
understand they are vital to the success of public schools.”—Angela Emmons, LEA spokesperson
LOUISVILLE EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION UPDATE The LEA members voted to return to the
classroom after 16 days on the line. They
returned without a contract settlement and
continue working minus ten members who
were put on administrative leave following
the strike that ended November 30. LEA
stands with these members-4 from the
elementary, 4 from the middle school and 2
from the high school, for allegedly deleting
unspecified files. As a result, ten classrooms
still have substitute teachers and students are
left without their regular teachers as well as
the uncertainty for these ten members as the
investigation continues.
FIVE STAR LOCALS FOR 2015-2016 Thirteen ECOEA locals have earned the ECOEA Five Star Award for 2015-2016. The Five Star Award was designed to encourage participation in ECOEA District activities. At the end of the year, local associations that have met at least 5 of the 6 criteria are acknowledged at the ECOEA Fall Rep Assembly for their accomplishment. A drawing is held among the qualifying locals for a $500 unrestricted award. The winner this year was the Stark County Education and Professional Trainers’ Association (SCEPTA). To qualify, a local must meet five of the following criteria: 1. Have a local delegate attend at least two of the four ECOEA or OEA Fall and Spring Representative Assemblies
2. Have at least 5% of local membership make FCPE contributions and be in good fiscal standing with OEA
3. Have a full slate of local officers 4. Have the local represented at least one ECOEA training, workshop, roundtable, retreat, or
service council 5. Have the local or at least one member apply for ECOEA Public Relations Grant, In-Service
Meeting Funds, Levy Assistance, Unit Scholarships, William and Delores Quinn Scholarships, NEA ESP Conference Scholarship, NEA Leadership Summit, or ECOEA Conference Scholarship to OEA Summer Leadership Conference
6. Have a local member serve as a representative on ECOEA or OEA Committees
Eleven locals met the criteria. Those locals who met all six of the criteria are acknowledged with an asterisk. Canton Professional Educators’ Association, Paul Palomba, President *Fairless Education Association, Melissa Kath, President Jackson Classified Personnel Association, Cindy Endres, President Minerva Education Association, Stuart Grunder, President *North Canton Education Association, Julie Nelson, President *Newcomerstown Teachers’ Association, Janel Travis, President *Perry Classroom Teachers’ Association, Kelli Green, President Rittman Education Association, Ed Sims, President SCEPTA, Victoria Freday, President Southern Local Teachers’ Association, Karen Marquis, President *Wooster Education Association, Scott Miller, President
ECOEA Spring Elections 2017 Elections will be held at the ECOEA Spring Representative Assembly on April 8, 2017, for positions with expiring terms. ECOEA Officers-Two year term 2017-2019: President Vice President Recording Secretary Executive Board-Three year term 2017-2020: Carroll County Rep Columbiana County Rep #2 Holmes County Rep Stark County Rep #5 Stark County Rep #6 Wayne County Rep #2 Columbiana County Rep #1 is vacant term ending 2018 ECOEA Representatives to OEA Committees-Three year term 2017-2020: Convention Planning Organizing Strategy Core Function Committee Collective Bargaining Core Function Committee In order for your name to appear on the ballot, a Letter of Intent must be received by the Business Manager no less than 40 days prior to the Spring RA. A sample Letter of Intent can be found on the ECOEA website. The deadline for the Letter of Intent is February 26, 2017. OEA Board of Directors-Unit 1-Three year term 2017-2020 The OEA Board of Directors is an OEA position. The Declaration of Candidacy form must be filed with OEA 75 days prior to the Spring RA election. Check the ECOEA website or contact Carol Price at OEA for a form ([email protected])
OEA Advocacy & Organizing Institute 2017
Register today at: OEA Advocacy & Organizing Registration
Locals are encouraged to send their leadership and bargaining teams to the upcoming OEA Collective Bargaining Conference that will be held in Columbus on February 2-4, 2017. ECOEA is proud to offer support to our locals by offering a $50 scholarship to the first ten locals that apply. This is a very affordable and informative conference. Bring the whole team! You must make your own reservation at the host hotel, the Renaissance Downtown at this link: Renaissance Conference Registration. However, the hotel bill is covered under the conference fees. The cost of the conference is $100 which includes 2 nights at the Renaissance, based on double occupancy, conference fees, and meals. This is a great opportunity to get your bargaining team together offsite to focus on team building and training. Regional boot camps will follow for more intense training focused on individual local contracts. The ECOEA scholarship application is located on the ECOEA website at: ECOEA Advocacy & Organizing Institute Scholarships
EAST CENTRAL OEA Legislative Dinner 2017
Dine and Discuss with your State Legislators
The annual ECOEA Legislative Dinner gives members the opportunity to talk face-to-face with the state legislators and state Board of Education members that serve the six county ECOEA district. Enjoy a delicious dinner followed by an interactive program where our guests participate in a moderated panel discussion about public education. ECOEA…the link between your local and the
Ohio Education Association
LaPizzaria
3656 Dressler Rd. Canton 44718
Friday
March 3, 2017
Registration 6:00 PM Dinner 6:30 PM Program 7:30 PM Networking 9:00 PM
Cash Bar Guests welcome
All ECOEA members are welcome with an online reservation & paid deposit. See website for details.
Reservation deadline February 24, 2017
East Central OEA 129 Easton St NE
Canton, OH 44721
ecoea.ohea.us
(330) 499-8587
TOP TEN FCPE LOCALS: 1. Newcomerstown TA 2. Perry Classroom TA 3. Wooster EA 4. Triway EA 5. Massillon EA 6. Fairless EA 7. North Canton EA 8. Minerva Local EA 9. Louisville EA 10. Chippewa EA
The top ten locals donating to FCPE were recognized at the ECOEA Fall RA. These locals have the highest percent member participation and received a certificate of recognition.
ECOEA Receives DLAMC Award
Delegates to the OEA Rep Assembly from ECOEA who
attended the Doris L. Allen Minority Caucus banquet on
Friday, December 2, were presented a plaque recognizing
ECOEA “For Continued Promotion of Minority
Involvement”. Accepting the award was President Julie
Nelson and Vice President Cindy Endres who were joined
at the podium by all ECOEA delegates at the banquet.
DLAMC recognized the work of ECOEA in providing
equal opportunity for all members and for their continued
support of the activities of DLAMC.
Thank you to the DLAMC Committee for this honor!
UPCOMING MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES
ECOEA sponsors several scholarships to attend NEA workshops. Apply on the ECOEA website at
ecoea.ohea.us for a $500 scholarship to attend the following:
NEA Retired Organizing Conference – Dallas, Texas
NEA Education Support Professional National Conference-Dallas, Texas
NEA Leadership Summit-Orlando, Florida
See the ECOEA website for scholarship details and links to the NEA Conference registration sites for
complete conference dates and details. Deadline to apply for an ECOEA Scholarship is January 13, 2017.
OEA has several scholarships and recognitions for members and locals ranging from $2,500-$4,000.
Deadline to apply is January 20, 2017. All forms are available on the ECOEA website at this link:
OEA Scholarships and Awards
Every year ECOEA awards the Quinn for Members Scholarship ($500) for continuing education and the
Quinn for Children of a Member Scholarship ($1,500) to a child of a member who enrolls in a course of
study leading to a degree in education. Both scholarships are by lottery drawing at the March ECOEA
Executive Board meeting and is awarded at the ECOEA Spring Representative Assembly. Members may
apply on the ECOEA website at this link:
Quinn for Members Scholarship or Quinn for Child of Member
Deadline to apply is March 1, 2017.
Senator Lou Gentile (SD30) was recognized as the ECOEA Friend of Education
for his service to public education and workers’ rights efforts in the Ohio Senate.
President Julie announced the award and Carroll County Rep Llyn Simpson read a
tribute to Senator Gentile recognizing his support and accessibility. The Senator
was unable to attend the Rep Assembly.
